Why Do People Buy Fake Designer Bags Or Fake Designer Anything?

[octopus17]

I saw my first fake bag ever on Tuesday in TK Maxx (TJ Mexx in the USA) when I was having a good old look in the handbags section.

It was a fake LV Speedy - I saw this lady also having a look in the handbags section and of course (:shame I immediately honed in on what handbag she was carrying, and thought 'Wow, it's a speedy - fantastic!' However, on closer inspection the handles were fraying and I don't even think they were leather, and the whole thing was just so obviously fake.

What really got to me, in an ironic way, was that here she was in the handbag section of TK Maxx surrounded by a lot of mainly Italian made leather handbags, some of very good quality and good price, and yet somehow she thought that wearing a fake was the way to go!ush: I can only hope that she managed to get a new bag from TK Maxx in the end!

 

[LulaMaeBarnes]

I think many of you are right, why can't we judge them? After all isn't that why they bought a fake in the first place? Because they are trying to give off a false image of wealth or status? They want to be judged, they just don't realize it has the opposite effect outside their group of friends.

I know there's always the exceptions, like they got it as a gift or actually believe they were real just cheap lining in them, I never understood how you could actually believe that.

So yes I will judge people who carry fakes. I admit I smirk a little and might lean over to whatever friend I'm with to point it out. On the other hand I never judge others that carry a lesser brand, sometimes I've complimented them. If you can only afford or only want to spend a minimal amount on a handbag who am I to judge a person being honest.


Nora: No I don't and I don't think most here think they are better then others for carrying real bags. What it means is that we respect the designer and want a quality handbag that's more then just for show and not break after a month of use. To some its an investment as silly as that sounds. People spend money on electronics, concerts, trips and other things people might laugh at, why is it so different then something like a handbag that will get years of use? I know people that will spend hundreds to get their hair done each month, another fifty to get nails done each week and much more eating out, yet they wont buy a nice handbag? How is that different really? Its' not throwing the money out the window, it's hanging on our arm.

 

[lvuittonaddict]

i live in an affluent area, and its not uncommon to see birkins and other very expensive bags. i was in starbucks and this woman had a gorgeous Hermes bag. i had never seen this style before, and i thought it may have been discontinued or something. i told her that i loved her hermes. she said thanks but its not real. i was shocked. only because it looked authentic. it was still a gorgeous bag whether or not it was a fake. oh well, to each his own. i used to be very opposed to fake bags. now i dont care. i know my bags are real, and the people who carry fake bags probably dont care to begin with. just let them be

 

[candace117]

Ethics of buying/selling fake bags aside...

This thread is hilarious to me. The idea that carrying a real bag makes you better than someone else? Last time I checked, money can't buy class or taste. And a fake bag is the ultimate way of saying "I'm so cheap?" Would you say the same about someone that is carrying an authentic brand but wearing designer knock-offs from Forever 21? Louboutin look-alikes from Steve Madden?

It's also equally as likely that someone with an authentic bag is trying to give off the impression and/or illusion of wealth. Just because you see someone with a big house or a new car doesn't mean they aren't wallowing in debt...

We aren't talking about who does or doesn't go into debt buying bags or houses. We are talking about the ethics of buying fake bags and the impact of purchasing those fakes.

 

[missbanff]

Okay Warren Buffet, the richest man in the world still lives in his little old house in Nebraska. He is pretty humble.

This is the whole principle behind the book "The Millionaire Next Door." Quite an interesting read - and I should add that I just got my from Target in my Old Navy windpants, Champion sweatshirt, Nikes, with a cap on and no make-up - with my Speedy 30. What other people think is of no consequence to me.

 

[patchworkcat]

who the heck cares what 'parisiennes' think about the way I/we dress?
I doubt they care if I like their apparel choice or not.
The last I checked we don't have to get our clothing choices approved by anyone, lest those across the globe.

Call people here fools again and we'll remove you
Welcome!
Oh and I'll happily carry my $3k Chanel bag w/ my gym clothes to the grocery store anytime I wish thank you very much. . .
I love America! LOL!

Bravo!

 

[NoraV]

We aren't talking about who does or doesn't go into debt buying bags or houses. We are talking about the ethics of buying fake bags and the impact of purchasing those fakes.

I understand that this is where the discussion has turned, but you'll notice throughout the thread at least a few posts saying that people that buy fake bags are cheap and that they're attempting to give off the illusion of wealth, which is why I included a disclaimer with my post. That was also not my main point, and my use of analogy was an attempt to highlight some of the rather ignorant statements made earlier in this thread. I think there are a lot of assumptions being made in this thread which are unfair. It's possible to talk ethics hypothetically, without making sweeping generalizations.

To be completely honest, if I see a blatantly branded handbag, I automatically assume it's fake. Then again, I'm a shoe girl, myself, and I highly doubt a major fashion house is going to go under due to fake bags. If anything, imitations and knock-offs are an occupational hazard of the fashion industry, and the reality is that the majority of people who knowingly purchase fake bags would likely not purchase the real bag anyway. I'm not saying it's right, but I think a lot of times people jump on the fake bag-hate bandwagon for the wrong reasons.

I would also be interested to know how many people have ever downloaded music illegally in this thread, even if it's just one MP3. Just different names for the same thing, no?

 

[missbanff]

no, someone else . . . funny thing about bannees that keep coming back is they always draw attention to themselves! LOL! Why try and sneak back in but post in some of the more controversial threads?

Can I guess? Was it someone who uses excessive punctuation symbols in their username? Just like they did under their last username?

 

[Swanky]

^

No, I have never illegally downloaded music.
And the reason so many of us are willing to continue to discuss this even though it's been beaten to death is because we're trying to actually communicate to people why it's unethical, so they're at least educated about that bandwagon they jumped on.

People who think fakes are innocent are fooling themselves. And that's fine, but they can't say no one told them any different.

 

[No Cute]

Fake issue to deal with in my local community. I was at my favorite local consignment shop has fake bags...Kate Spade and Coach. I figured they didn't know it...then they said they did. I was, in fact, encouraged by an employee to buy the fake Coach and not waste my money on a real one. Gotta say, fake Coach bags are REALLY bad looking.

Isn't it illegal to sell fakes? I know, only if they are caught. But how can they not know it? How do you suggest I approach the management? Or do I just walk away?

Can someone link me to the laws on this?

 

[patchworkcat]

I understand that this is where the discussion has turned, but you'll notice throughout the thread at least a few posts saying that people that buy fake bags are cheap and that they're attempting to give off the illusion of wealth, which is why I included a disclaimer with my post. That was also not my main point, and my use of analogy was an attempt to highlight some of the rather ignorant statements made earlier in this thread. I think there are a lot of assumptions being made in this thread which are unfair. It's possible to talk ethics hypothetically, without making sweeping generalizations.

To be completely honest, if I see a blatantly branded handbag, I automatically assume it's fake. Then again, I'm a shoe girl, myself, and I highly doubt a major fashion house is going to go under due to fake bags. If anything, imitations and knock-offs are an occupational hazard of the fashion industry, and the reality is that the majority of people who knowingly purchase fake bags would likely not purchase the real bag anyway. I'm not saying it's right, but I think a lot of times people jump on the fake bag-hate bandwagon for the wrong reasons.

I would also be interested to know how many people have ever downloaded music illegally in this thread, even if it's just one MP3. Just different names for the same thing, no?

I have not illegally downloaded music. Nor would I ever.

 

[Swanky]

to be honest, I think some of us are just on one side of this ethical line and others are not.
There's no educated or logical reason to support the counterfeit trade no matter what the reason . . . some people can justify anything. No point in trying to educate them.
Actually, maybe someone will steal or copy something from them one day and make a lucrative living at it and send the $ from the sales to drug dealers/traffickers, sweat shops, terrorism. . . then maybe they'll get it.

 

[tadpolenyc]

believe it or not, there is a middle ground. i personally think it's wrong that there exists an industry, which profits from an illegal activity that, furthermore, uses those funds to support destructive organizations and acts, but at the same time, i don't want to browbeat people whom minds i know i cannot change. i can preach and proselytize, but it's ultimately not my choice. i choose not to buy or carry counterfeit bags, but i can't and won't try to force others to assume my ethical choice. sometimes - most of the time - it's futile. i see this as no different as attempting to convince others to fall in line with my social or political views. i'm not defending the counterfeit trade by any means.

 

[ci7h2ino4]

It is a fact that the "fake" bags with the phony desinger labels are illegal to sell. These are the ones that actually have the Louis Vuitton, Channel, etc. label on them and are sold in such areas as Canal Street in New York. I certainly don't condone buying those bags because they ARE illegal.

However, the are replica designer bags sold at lower-end labels like Guess and Bebe or on street corners that don't have these fake labels. And they are completely LEGAL to sell. I don't think is a bag deal to buy a "fake" bag that is legal.

In some cases, there are people that love designer bags that simply can't afford them. Is it unethical for them to buy a replica bag? No, of course not. In other cases, for example Birkin bags, a normal person can't even get their hands on one of them. So is it wrong to buy the look alike bag? Again, I think not.

To me you have to distinguish between the illegal versus the legal replicas. It kind of reminds me of the people that find designer rings they like and then have a jewerly imitate the style for a fraction of the cost. Nothing wrong with that in my mind...

 

[Swanky]

we're not discussing replicas, we're discussing illegal counterfeits.
Replicas are a whole 'nother category, we know they're not illegal - they ARE copies, but they're not counterfeits as they don't use the logo, trademarks, etc. . . .
We're agaisnt illegal counterfeits.